A unique photographic book outlining the fortunes of Manchester’s industrial suburb of Ancoats has been considered for two prestigious awards in the space of two months.
‘The Peeps’ is a 144-page hardback book produced by Manchester-based Axis Graphic Design. In July, it achieved recognition in the ‘Best of Photographic Books from the World’ category at the Photography Festival in Arles, France. In August, ‘The Peeps’ was short-listed in the Roses Design Awards, the annual event organised by UK creative publication ‘The Drum’ to promote excellence in innovative design.
‘The Peeps’ bridges the worlds of art and urban regeneration and is the result of a close collaboration between Axis Graphic Design and the artist Dan Dubowitz. Through a series of photographs, old and new, ‘The Peeps’ chronicles the successful regeneration of Ancoats from the time it was the driving force behind Manchester’s world-leading role as a cotton-manufacturer, to the present day where inner-city dereliction has been replaced by a revitalised urban environment.
The book’s title derives from various ‘peep holes’ set up in and around Ancoats to provide visitors with evocative cameos of industrial life in the 19th century. These are featured in the book alongside historic and present-day photos of the area.
As well as telling the story of Ancoats through the photographic lens, ‘The Peeps’ demonstrates the power and versatility of a book to deliver a persuasive message in a compelling format.
Axis Creative Director, Alan Ward, is keen to point out the importance placed on high creative and production values. For 20 years, the company has collaborated with some of the UK’s leading book production professionals – including highly respected writers and photographers – to create beautiful books that will add value to any client’s activities.
Axis are well-known for their book production work in the arts and culture sectors. ‘The Peeps’ represents a move away from specialising purely in arts-led projects to a more diverse range of interests in the commercial and business community.
This is in response to a growing awareness that books are a powerful medium with a variety of uses for both commercial and public sector organisations. They can be used as promotional items, for new product launches, to commemorate specific anniversaries – and much more.
Unlike other marketing tools, the books created by Axis are unique personal items with a tangible presence that combine luxury and affordability in an aesthetically pleasing package.
